DMP & Mutual Support Thread - Part 8

Hopelessly_Hopeful

ohohoh wrote: »

I should never have moved out of my parents! What's done is done, I think I just need to get used to the fact that I'll either always be living at home or renting and scrap any ideas about having kids.

Not long to go now, 4 months and I will be debt free!

I think you are being hard on yourself, you have done really well. Congratulations.

It made me really sad to read you write give up hope of kids. It can all be done, just a matter of planning so please don't give up hope. Look at what you have achieved in the last fours years. The possibilities are endless.

HHx

Time_to_face_the_music

Hopelessly_Hopeful wrote: »

I renewed breakdown this week too. Topcashback have got some great deals with RAC. It said for new customers but I put my details in and accepted them. I managed to get it monthly at no extracharge, road and home for £7.49 a month plus TCB commission. Bargain!

13 is going to be a good year for us DMPers, the worm has turned

Good luck

HHx

I think we are going with Green Flag at £60.42 for the year plus £20 cashback via work reward scheme :j

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Time_to_face_the_music wrote: »

I think we are going with Green Flag at £60.42 for the year plus £20 cashback via work reward scheme :j

That's fab! Get in there woman!

HHx

jubilee14

hi looking for some help.
just received my third cc statement since the DMP kicked off and again Hfx have added interest. have written twice with no response asking them to consider reduce or freezing interest. my balance is going up each month on this. so what should i do? Do you have a template for reporting them as complaint and address i can send to?

BOS loan is problem too as they arent accepting the Stepchange payment so still being held and now reported as deraulted. All along with my work is starting me to stress i am not sure i did the right thing although i know i wouldnt be any better off as was running out of money by 10th of the month .

On a positive side my BC cc is going downwards although i think they will add the interest off at the end but thats a while away.

Help and advice would be appreciated .

Time_to_face_the_music

jubilee14 wrote: »

hi looking for some help.
just received my third cc statement since the DMP kicked off and again Hfx have added interest. have written twice with no response asking them to consider reduce or freezing interest. my balance is going up each month on this. so what should i do? Do you have a template for reporting them as complaint and address i can send to?

BOS loan is problem too as they arent accepting the Stepchange payment so still being held and now reported as deraulted. All along with my work is starting me to stress i am not sure i did the right thing although i know i wouldnt be any better off as was running out of money by 10th of the month .

On a positive side my BC cc is going downwards although i think they will add the interest off at the end but thats a while away.

Help and advice would be appreciated .

Hi Jubilee :hello:

You are in a position to make a complaint and I would suggest doing so ASAP.

Write to Halifax again, use something like this, using one letter for each account you have with them:

You

Date

Them


Dear Sir/Madam

Re: Halifax account No: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Thank you for your letter/statement concerning the above account. I am sorry that you feel unable to suspend interest charges on the above account.

As you are aware, I/we am/are in a DMP with StepChange, reference number XXXXXXXX. The majority of my/our other creditors have agreed to the offer of payment and agreed to suspend any interest charges still accruing. They have accepted that to continue to charge interest would not assist us in my/our present financial difficulties, and can only serve to increase my/our total debt.

I/we have already paid considerable sums in interest to my/our account. If interest charges continue, the monthly instalments I/we am/are paying will not even cover that interest. Also, the cooperation of my/our other creditors who have agreed to freeze interest already would be put at risk.

I am aware that Halifax subscribes to the Lending Code which states that lenders will consider reducing or suspending interest and charges if these would cause the debt to increase or lead to the repayment term becoming too extended. I would therefore be grateful if you would reconsider your decision not to freeze the interest. This would mean that the monthly payments I/we make would actually reduce the balance outstanding to your company.

If you are unable to help me with this issue, I will have no alternative but to take this case to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

I look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.

Yours faithfully

You


At the same time, contact the FOS and explain the situation. You do not have to wait for Halifax to reply, the FOS will work at the same time as your letter:

How to complain

1. Complain to your bank, insurance company or finance firm

It's important that you complain first to the business you're unhappy with –and give them a chance to look into your problem. They have eight weeks to dothis. We can help by contacting the business for you, and telling them aboutyour complaint.

• phone our consumer helpline on
  0300 123 9 123 or 0800 023 4567
  Monday to Friday – 8am to 8pm
  Saturday – 9am to 1pm

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.u...complaints.htm

You can ring the FOS now, they are open to 8pm, so give it a go.

Good luck and please let us know how you get on

Hopelessly_Hopeful

jubilee14 wrote: »

hi looking for some help.
just received my third cc statement since the DMP kicked off and again Hfx have added interest. have written twice with no response asking them to consider reduce or freezing interest. my balance is going up each month on this. so what should i do? Do you have a template for reporting them as complaint and address i can send to?

BOS loan is problem too as they arent accepting the Stepchange payment so still being held and now reported as deraulted. All along with my work is starting me to stress i am not sure i did the right thing although i know i wouldnt be any better off as was running out of money by 10th of the month .

On a positive side my BC cc is going downwards although i think they will add the interest off at the end but thats a while away.

Help and advice would be appreciated .

Hi

I agree with TTFTM.

BTW OFT guidelines say they cant refuse to accept payment!

Good luck. Let us know how you get on.

HHx

ohohoh_2

Hopelessly_Hopeful wrote: »

I think you are being hard on yourself, you have done really well. Congratulations.

It made me really sad to read you write give up hope of kids. It can all be done, just a matter of planning so please don't give up hope. Look at what you have achieved in the last fours years. The possibilities are endless.

HHx

It isn't just the being at home, it's something I've thought about for a while, although I'm only 30 I have PCOS and also had a benign tumour that was growing in my kidney, this has been embolised but I know it's a hormone issue and being pregnant can cause problems. You never know though, things can change overnight and there are other options.

Another positive thing about the DMP is whenever I get a PPI call I mention that and they hang up!

jubilee14

TTFM and HH as always knew you would have the answers thanks so much. will get the letter out tomorrow will probably write to them as well regarding the loan as SC say they are trying to resolve this with alot of other HBOS and LLyods loans.

will let you know how i get on.

SparkleShark

Hi everyone,

I've read through about 60% of the DMP posts, but have a few questions.
I only discovered DMPs today, so I'm going to sign up to StepChange by the end of the week. I have approx £4,500 of debt (not worked out exactly yet) and 90% of it is with HSBC. I have another bank account now with Co-Op. Do you need more than one bank ac to start DMP (I've seen posts on here from people saying that they're looking for another bank ac).
Also, I have two jobs and sometimes earn extra money through working overtime at my 2nd job, would I have to declare this money to StepChange every time I get extra? I like the idea of finally being able to save this money instead!!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
A very anxious newbie :eek:

Hopelessly_Hopeful

SparkleShark wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I've read through about 60% of the DMP posts, but have a few questions.
I only discovered DMPs today, so I'm going to sign up to StepChange by the end of the week. I have approx £4,500 of debt (not worked out exactly yet) and 90% of it is with HSBC. I have another bank account now with Co-Op. Do you need more than one bank ac to start DMP (I've seen posts on here from people saying that they're looking for another bank ac).
Also, I have two jobs and sometimes earn extra money through working overtime at my 2nd job, would I have to declare this money to StepChange every time I get extra? I like the idea of finally being able to save this money instead!!



Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
A very anxious newbie :eek:

Hi and welcome

You need to bank where you dont have debt.

Just declare regular amount.

Are you sure DMP the way forward. You may be eligible for a debt relief order? http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/factsheet.php?page=37_debt_relief_orders


Hope that helps

HHx